About

ABOUT US…

For over 40 years we have been helping patients with a range of eye conditions. Our approach has always been to serve patients by providing a high quality treatment. We pride ourselves on going above and beyond the average practice. All our staff here, whether that is one of the optometrists or the receptionists, focus on providing long-term support to patients. We believe in an active relationship between patients and the practice as it allows us to better understand and help patients.

We are frequently updating our machinery to best serve our patients. Recently we purchased a £50,000 piece of equipment called an OCTR, which helps tremendously in identifying diseases early before they become unmanageable.

Only a few practices across the country have this piece of equipment. We also increasingly have been focusing on neglected areas in optometry such as low vision aids and children services that have been benefiting our patients greatly. There are just a few reasons why our practice has lasted so long as patients can really sense the quality of care and treatment.

TESTIMONIALS

I have been using Alan Brunker Opticians for a number of years, as they have continued to provide an extremely professional and reliable service. As a patient I have the utmost confidence in the Optician’s expertise, and the Dispensing Opticians who have offered advice and guidance on the type of glasses that best suit my prescription and face shape. The practice itself has recently been refurbished offering a very spacious and relaxed atmosphere, which together with the friendly and competent team provides a high quality service.

Frances

 

Alan Brunker opticians has looked after my family since 2002. We are all so well looked after, my children who live in London still come back, to this, the most family friendly of opticians. Offering practical advice, healthcare and continuity of care, Brunkers is unbeatable. Always a range of products to choose from, efficient and economic decisions can be made without breaking the bank. We are treated like friends from the moment we walk through the door. Where emergency care has been needed, that is fixed in a jiffy. How ever, they remember all our little foibles I have no idea, but remember they do. Thank you for everything you do.

Emkes Family

 

“My family and I have been customers of Alan Brunkers Opticians for many years. I would never consider using any other opticians. The staff are very professional and helpful and I have every confidence in them. The eye examinations are very thorough, using up to date technology, and there is an extensive range of glasses to choose from, which include designer ranges. The styles are suitable for both myself and my daughters”

Kate Riches

 

SERVICES WE PROVIDE…

The Eye Examination, Specialist equipment: the 3D OCT, Children’s Eye Care, Low Vision Aids, Visual Stress

Learn more about each of these below…

 

THE EYE EXAMINATION

eye-test

A routine eye examination will ensure that your sight is functioning to its optimum level. In our daily lives, we often adapt and ignore the early symptoms of pain and discomfort that our bodies alert us on. It could be an occasional headache, tired eyes at the end of the day, occasional blurring or even other health problems.

How often do we put our symptoms down to stress and a busy lifestyle? We can often choose to ignore our eyes until the disturbances are great enough to deeply affect our lives.

Regular monitoring of your eyes will provide you with the peace and reassurance that your eyes are functioning as they should. Our optometrists will provide you with advice on your lifestyle and how to maintain this precious gift of sight. We use the latest specialist equipment in measuring and assessing the health of your eyes.

Here are the main reasons for scheduling a comprehensive eye examination…

 

  • Visual Acuity – enjoy clear vision for all your activities, whether it be driving in different light conditions, or playing sports that necessitate excellent eye-muscle coordination Visual Acuity
  • Eye Disease – have confidence rather than faith that your eyes are healthy
  • Developmental Problems – ensure that your child’s eyes are checked at an early age when treatment can prevent the development of lazy eye and other vision abnormalities
  • Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol – you may have heard the saying ‘eyes are the window to your soul’. In reality, they are the ‘window to your body’, as a thorough assessment can reveal a number of underlying conditions. Early detection is of paramount importance in maintaining your general health and fitness
  • Headaches – with the ever-increasing use of computer and mobile technology at home and in the workplace, we are pushing our eyes to the limit – are your eyes working at an optimal level to deal with this visual stress? Eyestrain is a common cause of headaches, but it is equally important to rule out other causes. We will discuss the possible risk factors of headaches to enable you to manage them or refer you to your General Practitioner for further investigation
  • Routine Eyecare – many visit the dentist and GP regularly, but we believe it is equally as important to extend the same care to our eyes. Remember, eye examinations are free for children and individuals over the age of 60 years (NHS Eye Examinations)

 

Specialist Equipment:Topcon 3D OCT (Ocular Coherence Tomography)

Scans captured using the OCT provide invaluable information for both the early detection, and diagnosis of various eye conditions that may have otherwise been missed until a later stage in the disease process. Images can be acquired within a few seconds, in a simple and comfortable manner, with the patient experiencing light flashes during the measurement. Only a few practices in the country have this piece of specialist equipment.

oct

OCT scans can be carried out for patients of all ages, but we recommend in particular, the following groups…

 

  • Individuals aged over 40 years, as these persons are more at risk of conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration
  • Those with a family history of age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, or diabetes
  • Where results of previous tests in the eye examination warrant more frequent monitoring of the retina (e.g. a mole at the back of the eye)
  • As a baseline measurement for any age group, so that there is a reference for us to compare against if any future symptoms or conditions arise

 

CHILDRENS EYE CARE

Current research shows that approximately 20% of school age children have undetected visual problems that are hindering their school performance. Children’s eyes continue to develop up to the age of 8 years. Therefore, it is imperative that visual disorders are detected and treated as early as possible.

eye-care-services-for-children

How confident are you that your child can see?

Children have a remarkable ability to adapt well to different conditions. This means that a child rarely complains about their vision, even when it falls well outside the normal limits! In fact, most parents address concerns following reports from teachers of problems at school, or on observing unusual behaviour such as eye ‘squinting’.

In particular, visual problems affecting one eye alone are only detected when a child attends for an eye examination, or is referred by the school following failure of a basic vision screening assessment. We recommend that every child has an eye examination by the age of 3 years especially where there is a family history of an eye problem or if the parent suspects a problem.

LOW VISION AIDS

low-vision

Low vision means that even with regular glasses, contact lenses, medicine, or surgery, some people find everyday tasks difficult to do. Reading the mail, shopping, cooking, watching TV and writing can seem challenging. Normal changes in our eyes and vision occur as we get older. However, these changes usually don’t lead to low vision. Most people develop low vision because of eye diseases and health conditions like macular degeneration, cataract, glaucoma, and diabetes. A few people develop vision loss after eye injuries or from birth defects. While vision that is lost usually cannot be restored, many people can make the most of the vision they have.

We offer a specialised low vision service that may help you to continue your current lifestyle, using the latest developments in visual aids and lighting. The assessment involves a careful check of your level of vision, along with a full discussion of our visual requirements. You will then be recommended magnifiers and other devices that can help you make the best use of your vision.

VISUAL STRESS

Approximately 20% of the population suffer discomfort when looking at a page of words. This condition is known as Meares-Irlen syndrome or Visual Stress. Our mission is to provide a spectrum of products to help those with visual stress.  Our products have been developed by a leading expert in the field and are backed by years of research and experience.

It is always a good idea to rule out other vision problems by having an eye examination. If you still experience the symptoms, try our overlay colour test to see if you might benefit from using an overlay. In many cases the discomfort can be reduced by changing the background to a certain colour. This can be achieved by placing a sheet of coloured plastic over the page (overlay) or by wearing coloured glasses.